INTERNATIONAL solidarity is needed to fight the assault on teachers’ pay and conditions around the world, union delegates heard while commending the bravery of a jailed Iranian teacher.

Teachers at the NASUWT conference today paid tribute to Esmail Abdi, leader of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA), for his work leading teachers’ demands for better pay and improved conditions for public servants.

Mr Abdi, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in Tehran for his activism, was awarded NASUWT’s international solidarity award for his efforts to ensure Iranian teachers are treated fairly.

Recently he was allowed to leave the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, but he was rearrested after only 11 days and taken back into custody.

NASUWT president Dan McCarthy told delegates that the union was working with ITTA, Amnesty International and Education International to press for his unconditional release and to call on the Iranian authorities to respect human and trade union rights.

The Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (Codir) welcomed the award and commended Mr Abdi for his “exceptional bravery.”

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “Esmail Abdi is an inspiration to teachers and trade unionists across the world through his courage to stand up for trade union and human rights in the face of oppressive and harsh treatment.”

Also at conference, David Edwards, general secretary of Education International, told delegates “solidarity does not have a price.”

He said teachers were the “last, best hope on the planet” and warned of the “companies and corporations that would very much like to privatise what we do.”